High school freshman are starting to think about college. They may not know where they want to attend or what they want to study, but they know they are going to college. But, how will they pay for it? Here are scholarships open to high school freshmen.

Junior Duck Stamp Contest
Sponsor: United States Fish & Wildlife Service
Amount: Up to $1,000
Closing Date: March 15, 2026
Description: Contest is open to students in grades K-12 who attend public, private, or home schools in the United States and the U.S. territories. Contestant must draw, paint, or sketch a picture of an eligible North American waterfowl species. Unfortunately deadlines for Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming.

Morris J .& Betty Kaplun Essay Contest
Sponsor: Morris J. and Betty Kaplun Foundation
Amount: Up to $1,800
Closing Date: March 15, 2026
Description: Contest is open to students in grades 7 through 12 anywhere in the world. Applicants must submit an essay on a given topic related to Judaism. Applicants do not need to be Jewish.

Innovation in Education Scholarship
Sponsor: LA Tutors
Amount: $500.00
Closing Date: March 20, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students currently enrolled in high school or college within the United States with at least 3.0 GPA. Applicant must be a citizen of, permanent resident, or hold a valid student visa in the United States or Canada. Applicant must have designed an innovative project that makes a difference in the lives of others and submit an essay describing the goal of the particular project and provide supporting documentation.

$250 Easy Scholarship: Ripple Effect
Sponsor: DoSomething
Amount: $250.00
Closing Date: March 31, 2026
Description: Most of the pollution impacting our waterways originates in our very own communities, due to improper trash disposal. And, 80% of our litter can actually be found on our coastlines. When trash isn’t disposed of correctly, it can be carried by rainwater into storm drains and eventually into rivers, lakes, and oceans, where it pollutes water, harms wildlife, and disrupts ecosystems. By creating and submitting your very own Ripple Effect PSA, you’ll become eligible for the opportunity to earn a $250 scholarship.

$500 Easy Scholarship: Street Sweep
Sponsor: DoSomething
Amount: $500.00
Closing Date: March 31, 2026
Description: When trash and pollutants, like plastic bags, food wrappers, cigarette butts, and other discarded items are left on streets or in public areas, they often get washed into storm drains during rain. Participate by organizing a Street Sweep event with your own Sweep Squad, or join a community cleanup hosted by other DoSomething members, to collectively remove trash before it enters our waterways. By participating in Street Sweep, you’ll earn 10 volunteer credit hours and become eligible for the opportunity to earn a $500 scholarship.

$2,000 “No Essay” College Scholarship
Sponsor: Niche
Amount: $2,000.00
Closing Date: March 31, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to high school, college, and graduate students and those planning to enroll within 12 months. Applicant must be a legal residents of the United States or an international student with a valid visa. Applicant must log in to Niche or create a free account to apply for the scholarship.

Appily Easy College Money Scholarship
Sponsor: Appily
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: March 31, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students 13 years of age or older who will be attending college in the future. Applicant must create a Appily profile (if they don’t have one already), share about their extracurricular, leadership, and volunteer activities, and then search Appily for scholarships.

Be Bold No-Essay Scholarship
Sponsor: Bold.org
Amount: $25,000.00
Closing Date: March 31, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students of all education levels, states, fields of study, and GPA. Applicant must create a Bold.org account and create a “bold” profile – bold does not mean “best,” or “most accomplished.” Being bold means being earnest, determined, and moving.

Civics Challenge
Sponsor: Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy
Amount: $500.00
Closing Date: March 31, 2026
Description: Challenge is open to U.S. students in middle school and high school. Applicant must submit a video, original song, or written essay on one of the following topics: 1. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor; 2. American 250: Which Founding Father inspires you the most and why?; 3. Legislative Branch; 4. Executive Branch; 5. Judicial Branch; 6. Citizenship; Rights & Responsibilities.

No Sweat Scholarship
Sponsor: Cirkled In
Amount: $2,500.00
Closing Date: March 31, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students 13 years of age or older who are legal residents of the United States or the District of Columbia. Applicant must create a free Cirkled in account.

Scholarship Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Live Poets Society of New Jersey
Amount: Up to $500
Closing Date: March 31, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to all U.S. high school students. Applicant must submit an original poem with 20 lines or less.

School Survey Sweepstakes
Sponsor: Niche
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: March 31, 2026
Description: Sweepstakes is open to current high school students, high school alumni who graduated within the last four years, and the parents of those students or alumni. Individual must take a survey on a United States high school.

All Star Verified Scholarship
Sponsor: Verified Scholarships
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: April 30, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to high school, college, graduate, adult students, and parents of high school and college students. Applicant must fill out a short form and answer the following question: “What is the best or worst part about finding or applying to scholarships?”

Humans of Dementia Scholarship
Sponsor: Hilarity for Charity (HFC)
Amount: $1,500
Closing Date: May 1, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to high school and college students in the United States and Canada. Applicant must submit a written profile or photo essay featuring someone currently living with or who has passed away from Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia.

Catholic College Scholarship
Sponsor: Catholic College Info
Amount: $2,000.00
Closing Date: May 31, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students 13 years of age or older who plan on attending a Catholic college or university.

Protestant Faith Based College Scholarship Drawing
Sponsor: FaithBasedCollege
Amount: $2,000.00
Closing Date: May 31, 2026
Description: Scholarship drawing is open to students 13 years of age or older who will request Faith Based college or university information, as well as those planning or considering attending a Faith Based college or university are eligible for the drawing.

$500 High School Freshman Scholarship
Sponsor: Niche
Amount: $500.00
Closing Date: June 1, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to legal residents of the United States or international students with a valid visa who are high school freshmen in the Class of 2029.

Huntington’s College Scholarship Sweepstakes
Sponsor: Huntington Learning Center
Amount: $4,000.00
Closing Date: June 30, 2026
Description: Sweepstakes is open to high school students and their parents or guardians who are legal residents of the United States.

Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship
Sponsor: Gen and Kelly Tanabe
Amount: $1,000.00
Closing Date: July 31, 2026
Description: Scholarship is open to students in grades 9-12, college, or graduate school students who are legal U.S. residents. Applicant must submit an essay answering why they deserve the scholarship or their academic or career goals.

Apprentice Ecologist Initiative Youth Scholarship Program
Sponsor: Nicodemus Wilderness Project
Amount: Varies
Closing Date: August 31, 2026
Description: Scholarships are open to students between the ages of 13 and 21 who are candidates for a degree/diploma at a primary (middle school), secondary (high school), or accredited post-secondary educational institution from any country around the world. Applicant must conduct their own environmental stewardship project.